Founded in 1853 and dedicated to unmatched quality and sophistication in its extensive line of kitchen and dining products, the German-based company saw sales last year top 2010’s figure by 32 percent, with the cookware category posting an increase of 145 percent. Cookware is now the number one product category for WMF Americas Group.
“WMF has not truly experienced negative ramifications from global economic downturns,” said Markus Glueck, CEO and president for WMF Americas Group Inc. “We have continued to post double-digit growth.”WMF strengthened its return on investment in turbulent times thanks to “spending the past two years thinking that ‘less is more,’ and that has meant streamlined business operations. We have 25 percent fewer distribution accounts, and our product assortment has been optimized to suit the U.S. market.” 
Deborah Corrado, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said there is no reason to think this year will be any different, pointing to WMF’s ability to create products geared toward consumers’ desire for healthy food preparation practices.
“All of the WMF cookware has the common goal to contribute to energy efficient cooking that retains optimum flavor and nutrition,” Corrado said. Furthermore, “as strong as 2011 proved to be, our expectations for growth in 2012 are even higher.”
About WMF Group:
Founded in 1853 and based in Geislingen, Germany, WMF is a retail and institutional culinary product designer and supplier, with roughly 6,000 employees in 12 countries on three continents. WMF, with about $1.2 billion USD global business annually, has built its reputation on quality and sophistication in products that are relied on in the kitchens and dining rooms of consumers, hotel operators and caterers. Its brands include WMF, Alfi, Auerhahn, Boehringer Gastro Profi, Hepp, Kaiser, Petra Electric, Princess, Schaerer and Silit. 
